They actually did! They had stars upon thars!
Extra points if you recognize today's title.WARNING: Today's post is all business, so if you don't want to read about release dates, my blog tour, my regular tour, reviews (with stars upon thars), interviews, how to read the first 3 chapters of Fire online, etc., etc., please just skip this BORING post and scroll down to read about cool stuff like babies and translations or to vote in my extremely relevant birthday poll.
Okay, here goes! Firstly, I am proud to report that Fire has received starred reviews from The Horn Book, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal, and a gold star from the Romantic Times. *blushes* I've finally gotten around to creating a page of Fire review excerpts; see the link on the left or just click here. (BTW. If you notice that it or any of my other Quick Links are dated 2/28/08... that's just the date I randomly give Quick Link posts, so that they don't pop up as new posts and clog people's readers. Make sense?)
Secondly: The US/Canada Graceling paperback is now in stock at Amazon and bn.com, and will, I assume, be in bookstores soon if it's not already. The mass market paperback in the UK/Australia/NZ will be released in September 2009. Fire will be released in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and NZ in fall 2009 (September for the UK edition, October 5 for the US edition). Everything I ever know about release dates is on my Contacts, Info, and Credits page, so please check there for updates.
Thirdly, I'll be doing a blog tour for a few weeks in late August/early September; this will involve Fire giveaways and other shenanigans; more info will be forthcoming.
Fourthly, I am doing a domestic tour for Fire in October and will be hitting a lot of different spots, but most of my appearances will be school visits, not open to the public. I'll let y'all know when the schedule is finalized, and I'll be sure to indicate which events are open to the public.
Fifthly, a recent interview with the Chicago Public Library has gone live; read it here. Thanks, Sarah, for asking some great questions!
Sixthly, you can read the prologue and first two chapters of Fire at Scribd.
Seventhly (I think I have begun to make adverbs up), there is still time to register for Sirens, a conference about women in fantasy, taking place in Vail, Colorado in October. Tamora Pierce, Sherwood Smith, and I are the guests of honor. More info here!
Eighthly, Graceling will be the featured read at readergirlz in September. I'll give a heads up when that happens.
Ninthly, once upon a time I was making a flow chart; now I'm only falling apart. (with thanks to colorwheel ^_^)
Tenthly.... that's it! I'm done! (And done in.)
Gah. Posts like this always feel very narcissistic to me. So why not close with a PHOTO OF ME? :D?
Really, it's a photo for the Gallery of My Favorite Objects. Orchids are among my favorite things in the whole wide world, and here are two. Incidentally, another of my favorite objects is (sort of) in this photo -- my fireproof, waterproof safe, which is on the floor at the bottom left. That's where I keep notebooks/manuscripts.
Thanks for your patience with this post, everyone.
Comments
~Jen
A word of warning to you though... about that safe... it's not very safe if it's not bolted to the floor. I had a safe like that in my bedroom closet. I kept my diaries in it from my entire life (age 10-41). Last year, our house was burglarized while we were on vacation, and the thieves stole my safe! I'm sure they thought it was filled with cash and jewels. It's true I get some satisfaction imagining them working for days trying to open the damn safe and finally cracking it only to find my diaries. But honestly, the loss of my diaries was worse than all the jewelry and electronics and everything else they stole. So make sure you've bolted your safe to the floor. Or donate your manuscripts and notebooks to the Kerlan Center.
orchid is one of my favorite subjects to paint in chinese brush painting--it is very elegant and calming. i can't paint orchid when i'm in a bad mood.
much luck on the release fun!! i'm so excited for you!
Congrats on all your starred reviews. Having read an ARC of Fire, I entirely agree. :)
Are you doing any events in December or January by any chance? Keep us posted! I would love to go to one of your keynotes sometime! You're one of the YA fantasy authors that is a true inspiration to me.
It would be great to have at least one Boston appearance. Perhaps at the Wellesley Booksmith or the Newtonville Bookstore, both of which do events well. You could suggest that to your publisher. However, if they don't set it up promptly we will buy our copies of Fire elsewhere, which (from the bookstore's perspective) defeats the purpose of the signing. Not unreasonably, many won't allow books purchased elsewhere to be signed and I completely understand their point of view.
I've been meaning to ask...what's with the "ya'll", I thought you were from the North? Haha. I can remember a time when I was visiting my brother in Ohio and we (me, him and several of his friends, who, by the way, I'd never met before then) went bowling. I dont even remember what I said, all I know was that it included "ya'll". I swear I heard a record scratch and crickets chirping. All heads turned toward me like I'd just sprouted an extra head. I was mortified! But, seriously, I'm just teasing ya...
And, um, the fire AND waterproof safe?! Awesome! I think you are my hero. I already adored your idea about putting your notebooks in the fridge "just in case". I've had those moments where I'm out of the house and panic about my work. But with a SAFE! Ahhh, I can already feel my brain relax just thinking about it. :)
Candice
You're only going to schools?...Think you could work in Nottingham High School in Hamilton, New Jersey? :)
I love your orchids, they're so beautiful! And THANK YOU so much for posting some of Fire. I am so excited to read your new book! I hope you have a great time at Sirens!! Woohoo
-Lore
Congratulations on all your successes! I wish I was able to go to Sirens, have a great time :)
Re: touring, I'll have to pass all the Australia love on to my Australian publisher and see what they think ^_^. There is a tentative plan in the works for a European tour in the spring, so I may be coming to England. We'll see -- I'll keep y'all posted.
Which reminds me, Alissa, I guess I picked up "y'all" while I was in Florida! It's so convenient. I think everyone should say it.
Brenda, if you can believe it, I keep my safe key right on top of the safe, which was a conscious decision out of hope that robbers would see the key, open the safe, and determine that they didn't want anything inside!
Through a Glass Darkly, I love that literal version, it's hysterical!
-JEN
Loved Graceling and cannot wait to read FIRE
Pleasepleaseplease come to Seattle! I go to UW and it would be such an honor.
Congrats on all your starred reviews for Fire and your touring/blogging 'stuff'! Don't let yourself get too stressed with it all!
I swear I turn into a fangirl at times like this.. Alas, I cannot help it. I'm just thrilled to have a few chapters!
Congrats on all the positive reviews, they are most assuredly deserved. I've been passing around my copy of Graceling to all my friends, even my mother! Thus far they all like it! (It looks signed btw. My copy I mean. I acquired it from one Melissa Marr. What do you think?)
Anyway, I'm so excited for Fire to be out soon. Congratulations again!
Now all I need to do is figure out how to make publishers to start sending people to Huntsville..
Gorgeous photo Kristen!
~Victoria
KatieDC, I'm not sure what you mean when you say it looks signed, but if you got it in one of Melissa Marr's giveaways, then it should be signed!
I wasn't sure, because it's small and under your name on the title page. It looked like is may have been stamped. But yay for signed books! Tis a UK edition! So thanks to you to then for that!
Also, beginning of Fire is fab. Am a little sad I have to wait to finish it. :)
2. I *adored* FIRE. [got my ARC at BEA from you!] Even more so than Graceling, which I loved to bits. I am so excited for your starred reviews for FIRE! You deserve it. I can't wait to buy FIRE for my HS library, and to see it in stores! Ok, starting to feel a little creepy by how excited I am for you. ;)
3. Orchids are one of my top 5 favorite things in the world, too. In fact, I went to an International Orchid Show last spring and it just took my breath away! If there was a way to attach a photo on here I would share a favorite. But just know, it was one of the most amazing events I have ever been to.
:)
tegan xoxoxoxox
I am so excited that you have moved up to my area and am crossing my fingers for a local bookstore signing so that I can come and see you in person! I'll be the one with the bad haircut.
=o)
Also, thanks for the preview chapters. I've actually wanted to wait till the paperback version, but now I won't be able to. But I guess it'll look better this way, seeing as I HAD to have Graceling as well last time ;)
I'm looking forward to seeing it in the bookshops. Hope you're having fun, as busy as you seem to be right now :)
Best,
Melissa
Melissa's Bookshelf
Fleas
Adam had-am
I made me laugh for days!